6 Top Cannabis Strains for Easing Asthma Symptoms
The respiratory disease known as asthma occurs when irritants cause the airways to become inflamed. Breathing problems, coughing, wheezing, lung muscle spasms, and excessive mucus production result from this. Asthma symptoms can be triggered by irritants such as pollen, cold air, exercise, and viral infections. If you are considering including marijuana in your treatment plan for asthma, we suggest that you first speak with an online marijuana doctor. The professional will evaluate your condition and determine whether or not marijuana is helpful for you.
Approximately 25 million Americans, or 8% of adults and 7% of children, suffer from asthma. Compared to children, adults are five times more likely to die from an asthma attack. Asthma claims the lives of 10 Americans every day on average.
There is no cure for asthma, but there are some treatments and preventative measures that can help. Traditionally, oral corticosteroids, short-acting anticholinergics, and inhaled short-acting beta-antagonists (SABAs) are used to treat asthma. To prevent asthma attacks, people take preventative medications every day. These include immunological cell stabilizers, biologic medications, and corticosteroids, which can be inhaled or taken as a pill.
Contrary to popular belief, cannabis may help reduce the symptoms of asthma. Cannabis has bronchodilator properties. This indicates that it facilitates easier breathing by relaxing the muscles in the airways.
How Cannabis May Provide Relief for Asthma
Numerous compounds found in cannabis, known as cannabinoids, interact with cannabinoid receptors all over the body. CB1 and CB2 receptors are the names given to these. The brain and nervous system contain the majority of CB1 receptors. They play a role in controlling cannabis’s psychoactive effects as well as nausea and vomiting. The immune system and other parts of the body contain CB2 receptors. CB2 receptors play a part in controlling inflammation and pain. The lungs contain the cannabinoid receptors that are most crucial for treating asthma; CB1 receptors are especially crucial for controlling muscle tone and spasms, while CB2 receptors control inflammation.
The two main cannabinoids in cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The psychoactive effects of cannabis are produced by THC, while CBD has pain-relieving qualities but no psychoactive effects.
Cannabinoids attach to the lungs’ CB1 receptors to alleviate the symptoms of asthma. This results in a phenomenon known as bronchodilation, which is the dilatation of the lungs’ bronchi and bronchioles airways. Breathing becomes easier when these airways are dilated because the lung muscles relax.
THC and CBD not only help to open the airways but also reduce mucus production in the lungs. In order to prevent foreign particles like viruses and pollen from getting to the lungs and causing problems there, the body naturally produces mucus to trap them in the throat. The body produces more mucus to keep more foreign particles from getting to the lungs during an asthma attack, whether it is brought on by physical irritants like pollen or irritation from exercise. However, since mucus cannot always trap the irritant (as in the case of cold air or exercise), excessive mucus production during an asthma attack makes breathing difficult and is frequently unnecessary.
Additionally, CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. The body’s immune reaction to pathogens and foreign particles causes inflammation. Inflammation causes the symptoms that occur during an asthma attack. Even when the irritant is not harmful, the body in asthma triggers an immunological reaction. By binding to the CB2 receptors, CBD modulates the immune system and lowers inflammatory cell activity, which lessens asthma symptoms.
Cannabis contains a variety of terpenes in addition to cannabinoids. Terpenes like limonene, myrcene, eucalyptol, and pinene are believed to have anti-inflammatory qualities and may help reduce the symptoms of asthma.
Top Methods to Ingest Cannabis for Asthma Relief
An inhaler is the most effective way to consume cannabis for the treatment of asthma. Treatments for asthma attacks must minimize symptoms as soon as possible, and inhaling cannabis is the quickest way to achieve this. Cannabis acts quickly when inhaled, increasing bronchodilation in roughly five minutes. Additionally, using an inhaler is better than smoking cannabis because smoking it can aggravate the throat and result in symptoms similar to asthma. Employing a vape pen is also effective; however, CBD oil is too thick for a vape pen and will need thinners, which can also irritate an asthmatic’s airways.
CBD drops taken orally are the next best way to consume cannabis for asthma. CBD is absorbed when the oil is applied under the tongue, avoiding liver metabolization and providing rapid symptom relief. This method relieves asthma in 15 to 30 minutes. Edibles and capsules are two more oral ingestion methods, but they take longer to work because the cannabinoids must first be metabolized and pass through the liver before entering the bloodstream. Capsules and edibles take 60 to 90 minutes to start working.
Best Cannabis Strains to Manage Asthma Symptoms
- AC/DC
Because ACDC only contains 1% THC, it typically has minimal to no intoxicating effects. It is one of the most popular medical marijuana strains for inflammation because of its high CBD content (13%).
- Charlotte’s Web
Because of its extremely low THC content (0.3%), Charlotte’s Web is a non-intoxicating strain. Because of this, it’s a good choice for treating asthma during the day when concentration is required. Charlotte’s Web contains a lot of CBD, which reduces inflammation and pain.
- Harlequin
Harlequin has a relatively low THC content of 5–10% and a high CBD content of up to 11%. This strain reduces inflammation and has a calming, euphoric effect. It is suitable for people who are new to cannabis use because of its low THC content, which prevents it from having a strong psychoactive effect. Myrcene, another ingredient in Harlequin, has anti-inflammatory properties.
- CBD Kush
THC and CBD are present in a 1:1 ratio in CBD Kush. It has calming and mood-enhancing properties at 7% of each, which helps to lessen asthma symptoms. Beginners can benefit from cannabis strains with a 1:1 ratio because the resulting high is not overpowering.
- Cannatonic
Relief from the cannatonic cannabis strain is comparatively fleeting. It has up to 17% CBD and 6% THC. It relieves asthma symptoms without having the same psychoactive effects as Charlotte’s Web.
- Royal Medic
10% THC and 12% CBD are present in Royal Medic. Since the psychoactive effects of this strain are mild and most users report feeling clear-headed after using it, it is a good choice for daytime asthma relief.
- CBD Kush
THC and CBD are present in a 1:1 ratio in CBD Kush. It has calming and mood-enhancing properties at 7% of each, which helps to lessen asthma symptoms. Beginners can benefit from cannabis strains with a 1:1 ratio because the resulting high is not overpowering.
In order to legally access marijuana and avoid legal ramifications, you must have an MMJ card in Sacramento if you are considering including it in your asthma treatment regimen.
